By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, asserted on Tuesday (January 9, 2024) that her committee is prepared to conduct a thorough review of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) franchise.
“We need to assess whether the NGCP is meeting its obligations under its franchise,” Poe stated, emphasizing that it falls within the jurisdiction of Congress to determine if the grantee needs to “shape up or ship out.”
“In managing the critical operation of power transmission lines, there is no room for inefficiency, mismanagement, or blunders,” Poe added.
Highlighting the recent blackout incidents in Panay Island, Poe emphasized the urgency of addressing issues to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of affordable, stable, and accessible electricity to the island’s residents.
Earlier, Senator Raffy Tulfo proposed revoking the NGCP franchise due to its “repeated failures” in stabilizing the power grid system.
(el Amigo/MNM)
